Controversy erupted on the ABC hit morning talk fest The View when co-host Whoopi Goldberg got into it with Michaele Salahi of The Real Housewives of DC, who achieved infamy as the White House Gatecrasher.

Goldberg was not part of the segment that is now the center of controversy. As Salahi sat on a sofa with her co-stars and Sherri Shepherd and Joy Behar, Whoopi unexpectedly came onto the set from backstage and touched Salahi’s back, slightly startling her.

Different versions of this event are being released by The View and the Salahi’s attorney —but one thing they both agree on is that it ended with Whoopi and Michaele in a vicious argument.

The View released an official statement outlining what happened: “At one point during Michaele Salahi’s appearance on The View on Wednesday, Whoopi lightly touched Ms. Salahi to get her attention and said to her “Excuse me, can you get back to the White House, please,” meaning could Ms. Salahi return to the original subject of the conversation. After the show, Ms. Salahi and her husband accused Whoopi of hitting Ms. Salahi. As the broadcast clearly shows, the accusation was completely unfounded and erroneous. After the show and after being told she was being accused of hitting Ms. Salahi, Whoopi proceeded to defend herself verbally from this baseless claim in a heated exchange with the Salahi’s.”

The Salahi’s attorney Lisa Bloom tells the story differently and with more detail.

Bloom told RadarOnline.com that Bravo had asked Michaele not to be referred to as the White House Gatecrasher. That didn’t go as planned during the taping of The View.